Craving music? Good food? Some shopping? Don’t let the weekend go to waste. Here are a handful of fun things to do in Pittsburgh.
Pittonkatonk
Get ready to enjoy some free live music without boundaries. Starting at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Vietnam Veterans Pavilion in Schenley Park, Pittonkatonk is ready to rock again. Going since 2014, the festival features a full schedule of bands, as well as vendors and food for everyone to enjoy. Pittonkatonk features music from around the world, spanning many genres.
Parking is limited around the venue. The festival also contains an “activist greenhouse” full of social and environmental organizations.
Pittonkatonk is for all ages. To learn more, check out pittonkatonk.org.
OpenStreetsPGH
Organized by Bike Pittsburgh, OpenStreetsPGH is an opportunity to dance (and do many other activities) in the street. Taking place for the first time in 2024 this Saturday, OpenStreetsPGH will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on a route that travels from Downtown Pittsburgh to the South Side.
The event includes fun exercise classes, live music and entertainers, food and drink vendors, informational sessions, photo ops and more. Many events are geared toward kids, so bring the whole family.
Check out the full schedule and route at openstreetspgh.org.
Friendship Flower and Folk Festival
Get to know the neighborhood of Friendship a little better with this festival on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Baum Grove.
The festival is free and for all ages. It will contain a plant and flower sale, a full day of live bands and musicians and a book sale. Come hungry; there will be hot picnic food and a bake sale on site.
Proceeds go to the maintenance of Baum Green, the triangle of park space behind the Aldi on Baum Boulevard. To learn more, visit friendship-pgh.org.
Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books
The Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary in East Liberty. Book lovers come together with locally-tied authors — including TriLive staff reporter JoAnne Klimovich Harrop — and poets to celebrate the written word.
Upcoming Local Events
The event is for everyone — there will be children’s activities in addition to author talks and exhibitions.
For a full schedule, map and registration, check out pittsburghbookfestival.org.
Neighborhood Flea: Mother’s Day Edition
Sunday is Mother’s Day, and if you forgot to buy a gift — or just want to have a shopping day with Mom — the Neighborhood Flea is a great option. This is the first Neighborhood Flea in the new location, SouthSide Works.
Vendors will be on hand selling a variety of wares from vintage and handmade items to small-batch sweets. There’s a gift for everyone — and their mother — at the Neighborhood Flea.
The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. There are garages nearby for parking and a whole battery of restaurants for pre- or post-Flea meals. The event space even contains a dog park, so bring your furry friends along.
The Facebook event page can be found here.
Alexis Papalia is a TribLive staff writer. She can be reached at apapalia@triblive.com.